I have no issue with saying that the barber shop in Embarcadero 3 here in San Francisco is run by a very narrow minded anti-semtic person. Now, not to confused Embarcadero 3 with Embarcadero Technologies, the database tools and software development company, where I work.
I needed a haircut – sometimes I look like Ringo Star or some form of the Beatles. Depending on where I get off my California-1 bus I walk by this small barber shop just inside Embaradero 3. I thought, heck, I’ll try it out. While I am sitting in the chair, about to finish with a quick trim of the side burns the gentlemen in the chair next to me starts saying some pretty anti-semtic remarks about a favorite country of mine – Israel.
I am not going to go into the details about what he said, which included the words apartheid. What made it even more surprising was the owner (who was cutting his hair) was confirming and agreeing with all of his thoughts. The customer who said these nasty sentiments was very forceful, aggressive and ignorant in his comments.
On a day such as this, a day where the world is to embrace humanity, I was actually in shock. I didn’t know what to say, if anything. I left quietly….and went to get lunch.
On my way back from getting food, the story changes. I decided I couldn’t just let this go by. I went back and confronted the owner. He said he was entitled to his own opinion and his thoughts. I told him that while he not only just lost a customer, I would let others know. Oh and his thoughts were based on complete lies and total fabrications.
If you are a good Jewish guy in San Francisco, I beg of you not to go into any barber shop in Embarcadero 3 which faces out to Clay Street.
Cheers.
